11 Killed in Thai Building Collapse

Feb. 25, 2014 8:21 a.m. ET

Thai rescue workers search for survivors after a building under construction collapsed in Bangphli district, Samut Prakarn province. European Pressphoto Agency

BANGKOK—At least 11 construction workers were killed when part of a building under construction at a hospital on the outskirts of Bangkok collapsed Tuesday.
Sixteen people were injured in the incident, which took place while construction workers were having lunch at the site. Some of the injured are in critical condition, said police Lt. Apivat Kasorn, who is in charge of an investigation into the building collapse.
The incident took place after an elevator shaft inside the building gave way, according to a statement from the Ramathibodi Hospital, located in the Bangphli district of Samut Prakarn, east of Bangkok. The cause of the collapse of the elevator shaft is still unknown, the hospital said.
“The broken shaft fell across the third floor which led to the whole structure underneath caving in,” said Lt. Apivat.
TV footage showed backhoe tractors removing debris from the site of the collapsed structure as emergency teams searched for survivors.
Lt. Apivat told The Wall Street Journal that investigators would have to question the survivors and witnesses before they can draw any conclusions on the cause of the incident.
Write to Nopparat Chaichalearmmongkol at nopparat.chaichalearmmongkol@wsj.com

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